Written by

Scott Bowles, USA TODAY

Such was the lure - and challenge - of Grudge Match, the comedy that pairs Sylvester Stallone and Robert De Niro as aging boxing greats who meet for one final battle in the ring. Kim Basinger co-stars in the film, due out Dec. 25.

While Grudge won't sport the names Rocky Balboa or Jake "the Raging Bull'' LaMotta - the characters who would help define the careers of Stallone and De Niro more than 30 years ago - director Peter Segal (Anger Management, 50 First Dates) found a way to infuse his film ...